Is there hope for this?
I say YES!
First take out the shoulder pads.
Then cut off the sleeves.
Next, cut off the extra around the arm holes.
Pin the sides to fit.
Sew new side seams.
Trim seams.
Cut a new neckline. For symmetry, cut the first side then fold it over and continue cutting, using it as a pattern.
Cut the bottom off the sleeves.
Using a rotary cutter, cut 2 inch strips.
Cut them open and lay flat.
Sew all the short sides of the strips together.
Using the longest stitch and the highest tension, sew down the middle of the strip and it will automatically ruffle.
Pin the ruffle around the new neckline and down the front then sew again down the middle of the ruffle.
I was going for this look from Pinterest , now I just need a navy cardigan. It’s not exactly like the shirt, I think I’ll try a softer tee shirt next time.
I used the same technique for the ruffle on this dress.
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The Renegade Seamstress 
Very cleaver!
Thanks Elizabeth!
Sooo cool. You make it sound like I could even do this. ~~Bliss
I bet you could!!!!!
“Just snip here. Remove this. Lay that flat. Tuck this under. Add some fairy-dust. Spin three times and . . . Voila; a beautiful shirt!”
This is basically the process in which I see you’ve created this piece. LOL! You make everything look so terribly, wonderfully easy. For a split second I think, “I can do this!” and then reason and logic kick in, and I’m relieved to be back to normal. Ha! I do so love watching you work, though. I agree — the shirt would look lovely beneath a fitted cardigan.
Happy Sat, Beth 🙂
Your comments really DO make me happy, Cara! I get a big smile on my face every time I read your writing!
Blesses me to know this! I see your smiling face right now, and it pleases me to know that I have the ability to put it there.:)
Thank you, always, for reading my writing.
I like. Have fun!
It’s beautiful. I like yours much better.
Oh my gosh, Trudy. So nice to hear from you! How is your husband? I’ve been thinking of you often.
I agree with Trudy. Yours is so much neater! I love the vision you have Beth, to turn something very average into something so stunning… so inspiring. 🙂
Thanks so much! I truly love sewing!
I love this! It turned out so cute and the green dress is darling as well. Happy Saturday!
Yes very very nice!
I love love love this! My jaw seriously dropped when I scrolled all the way down and saw the ruffle! What a great idea.
That is fabulous!!!
Thank you kindly!
Wow! How cute – Thanks for the inspiration!
You are so welcome. Thanks for visiting!
Thanks for the highest tension, longest stitch trick. I did a similar refashon yesterday and am a bit stumped on the collar. It looks SO much easier using the sewing manequin. Is it?
I just pinned it all the way around. But I do love my dress form. It was my Christmas present to myself. It does make things much easier.
I love this! I just pinned this from Pintrest too… Very cute top refashion…
Jeanna
Thanks Jeanna!
I love this! I hope one day my sewing skills improve enough to be able to make this!
Gosh I was worried for a minute there – it looked so sad but it turned out so well! The green outfit is fantastic too – so beautifully put together!
Great tutorial! I love the ruffles!
I am loving ruffles lately, too!
I like the look of your shirt better, to be honest. 🙂
Thank you Steph! I really appreciate you taking the time to give me feedback. It makes this blogging thing so fun!
Both are so stinkin’ cute! I need to clean out my closets and I’m glad I saw this first… I’m going to take a second look at some of those “throw-aways”!
I like yours WAY better than the inspiration. Very pretty.
Thanks so much Carolyn!
Beth
Ooh, this is pretty! I just got a whole pile of t-shirts to repurpose AND all of my own shirts are starting to get threadbare so I need to get crackin’. Thanks for the inspiration!
You are so welcome Karla! It’s a fun and easy project to do in an afternoon. I’d love to see pictures when you’re finished!
Have a good Wednesday!
Beth
I stayed up and made something last night! http://karlamcurry.wordpress.com/2012/06/06/refashion-long-sleeved-t-shirt-into-ruffled-tank-top/
This turned out sooooo cute!
This is awesome I love this top! I can’t wait to make one for myself!
Pingback: Refashion: long-sleeved t-shirt into ruffled tank top | Karla M Curry
This looks great! I’ve tried the ruffle technique before with my machine, but just can’t seem to get it down. Thanks for sharing this refashion! I would love for you to link it up to our link party! http://herestohandyandy.blogspot.com/2012/10/a-pinteresting-link-party-week-63.html
Thank you, I joined your link party. I hope I’ve done everything right. I haven’t done link parties very much. What a good idea though!
Beth
How did you finish off the sleeves??? The tee looks amazing!
Hi Rebecca, I just rolled a small hem in each sleeve. It’s sleeveless as of now and I wear it under cardigans.
Thanks for the visit!
Beth
Hi, I’m Anne from Life on the Funny Farm (http://annesfunnyfarm.blogspot.com), and I’m visiting from the Pinteresting Party.
This is beautiful! I love your clear instructions.
Anyway, thanks for posting this. I hope you can pop by my blog sometime to say hi…
Thanks for the visit, Anne! I checked out your site and joined your link party. It’ll be fun to check out some new blogs!
Beth
I like yours better, too! The green outfit is pretty and I love your boots. Are the boots recent? I’m on the hunt, and haven’t found some I loved … until yours. 🙂
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for visiting my blog! The boots are actually from Target. I get so many compliments on them and they were only $29.95. They are quite comfy, too. Enjoy your Sunday!
Beth
Just found this on Tip Junkie! Love it and I love your dress outfit with those boots! Cute =)
Thank you Kristin!
I love your site and this top is fabulous. As a newbie I was wondering do you have to finish the ruffles off so they don’t fray?
Hi Eileen,
Welcome to The Renegade Seamstress! The beauty of using t shirt knit, is it won’t fray. Jackpot! One less thing to do 🙂
Happy Sewing,
Beth
wow its amazing what you do just from looking through everything you have already inspired me to start makeing my own clothes. You are truly amazing! Thank you!
~ Leah
Age:13
Thanks, Leah! Sewing is such a great way to have a nice wardrobe for very little money. Plus its so FUN!!!
Happy sewing!
Beth
You are not only creative you are an EXCELLENT teacher! These instructions are so well written I do believe I can do this!
Thank you so much, Lori! I hope you try this out. I’d love to see what you do.
Happy sewing!
Beth
I think that you could use that shirt the strips would just have to be more than 2 inches. Double the width or even go 5 inches to give a little more play to the edges of the ruffle.
Great idea, Kandice! I think I’m going to try that. I bet it would help if I didn’t gather the ruffle so much, too. Thanks for the feedback!!
Beth
all your “re-fashions” just thrill me!!!!! Someday when my little ones are older, I WILL have time for these kinds of projects. This is so up my ally! : )
It IS fun, easy, and affordable!!! I hope you will be able to try this someday. Thanks for commenting!
Beth
You genius! Thank you
Cristina
I loved your version better ! You made my day with all the lovely things you ve created ❤
Thanks so much!!
that looks so pretty, thanks for sharing step by step
Thank you!
I must mnade a doll .Its easy to refresh if you put dress on doll and make.Is it?
I just love how you do this type of project. Thanks so much for sharing! You look amazing in the shorter length skirts, by the way. I’m going to try this embellished T. I have piles of clothes I can’t part with and needed inspiration to refashion them. You have so many ideas, I’m kinda overwhelmed, but in a good way. Thanks again!
You are so welcome, Sarah! Have fun!!!
I love your instructions. I think I could do this.
I’d love to see your creation, Catherine.
This is such a neat idea. I have thoroughly enjoyed your posts these last few days since I discovered it! I was reading along and saw the post on the EOLS and I realized you are in Eastern Oregon too! So fun. We live outside Pendleton, and my kids show 4-H. I always enjoyed EOLS in my horse showing days.
Anyway, your tutorials and resources have me so inspired! I have been losing weight over the last 18 months (50 lbs so far) and I have more to go. So having some easy ways to recycle clothes that I have or “new” ones from thrift stores is going to be great. Thank you so much for these great tutorials. I already knew how to sew well, but the expense of fabric these days and lack of time with 4 kids, I got away from it for a while. What a great excuse to break out the machines and get busy!
Are you tired of winter yet? My hubby drives over Cabbage Hill daily and works on construction projects in La Grande, Baker, Durkee, Elgin etc. It sure has been a mess and I always breathe a sign of relief when I hear from him after he arrives at work in one piece or when he arrives home safe each night!
Hi Jules, Thanks you so much for your nice comments! It’s so fun for me to connect with local people. We’re starting to thaw out a bit today, but we’ve got a long way to go with as much snow as we have. We live on Catherine Creek and I’m a little concerned about the flooding once the thaw really starts. Maybe we can meet in person some day. In the meantime stay safe and stay warm!!!
Beth